Visual Effects, Animation, and Motion Graphics

Adobe Photoshop introduction:  September 7th, 2011


Photoshop and converting the RockPaperScissors.jpg
          from one layer into 3 or 4 layers.


Photoshop for After Effects... 

Why do we want separate layers?  For After Effects
          animation of each separate element we find
          in the photograph or image file.

Ctrl + + to increase the magnification
Ctrl + - to decrease the magification

  Double click on the Zoom tool, the Magnifying Glass
  to set the magnification back to 100%, i.e. to actual
  size of the graphic image.

Alt + Backspace to fill the selected area with the
                     Foreground color.
                
                Make sure the correct layer
                     is selected before you do the
                     Alt+Backspace.

L for lasso Lasso    We used LASSO tool to get the
      3rd row           paper selected.

M for Marquee        Marquee tool allows for Rectangles
      2nd row                     or for Ovals (circles).

I for Eyedropper     To pick up the exact color of some
      6th row           area of the GIF or JPG or image,
                        you and I use the I-dropper tool.

W for Magic Wand     Click on a pixel and it selects all
      4th row          similar pixels that it can find
                       and stops when it hits "different"
                       colored pixels.

Spacebar held down   To move the image around so you can
    for HAND tool      see different portions of it in the
                       given window, especially when 
                       magnified to 200 or 400 percent.

How do you create a new layer?  What does the icon look like?

How would you throw away a layer you did not want?  Trash barrel
    icon is used for this.  It is just to the right of the
    Create a New Layer icon.

Why was Paste Special so useful when we placed the
    Paper or the Scissors into its own layer?